James Parker Jones

James Parker Jones
Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
Incumbent
Assumed office May 19, 2015
Appointed by	John Roberts
Preceded by	James Zagel
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
In office 2004–2010
Preceded by	Samuel Grayson Wilson
Succeeded by	Glen E. Conrad
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office August 30, 1996
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	James Harry Michael Jr.
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 39th district
In office January 12, 1983 – January 13, 1988
Preceded by	Rick Boucher
Succeeded by	William C. Wampler Jr.
Personal details
Born	James Parker Jones (1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 Tampa, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Education	Duke University (A.B.) University of Virginia (LL.B.)

James Parker Jones (born July 3, 1940) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia and a Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He is also a Judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.

Early life and education

Jones was born in Tampa, Florida. He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Duke University in 1962. He received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1965.

Professional career

Jones was an assistant commonwealth attorney general of Virginia from 1965 to 1966. He was a law clerk for Judge Clement Haynsworth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1966 to 1968. He was in private practice in Abingdon, Virginia from 1968 to 1971, and in Bristol, Virginia from 1971 to 1995. He was a Virginia state senator from 1983 to 1988. He also served on the Virginia State Board of Education from 1990 to 1996.

Failed district court nomination

On May 16, 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated Jones to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. However, the United States Senate did not process Jones' nomination before Carter lost his bid for re-election, and President Ronald Reagan chose not to renominate Jones to the seat.

Federal judicial service

Jones eventually became a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia after President Bill Clinton nominated him on December 12, 1995, to fill the seat vacated by James Harry Michael Jr., who had taken senior status. The United States Senate confirmed Jones on July 18, 1996, and he received his commission on August 1, 1996. Jones served as Chief Judge from 2004 to 2010. He has served as a Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court since 2015 and as a Judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court since 2016.

Sources

• James Parker Jones at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.